Girl, 14, in court after pinging classmate’s bra

July 5, 2006

Updated: Monday, June 7, 2010 (09:30)

The girl leaves the court with her father

A GIRL aged 14 was taken to court after pinging a classmate s bra. The teenager, who cannot be named because of her age, admitted common assault after accepting that what she did was technically against the law. However, magistrates said the case shou

A GIRL aged 14 was taken to court after "pinging" a classmate's bra.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of her age, admitted common assault after accepting that what she did was "technically" against the law.

However, magistrates said the case should not have come to court and gave her an absolute discharge.

The court heard the girl had already been suspended from school for two days and she had been punished by her parents who withdrew her mobile phone, Sony PlayStation and laptop computer for four weeks.

Huntingdon Youth Court heard that the teenager had walked across a classroom at her school to where the girl, also aged 14, was sitting, to talk to a friend.

Prosecuting, Tracey Bellingham said: "The victim had just come back from the toilet when the girl talked to someone on her table.

"She then said to the victim 'have you been putting tissues down your bra?'

"The victim replied 'don't be silly'. The girl then, with her left hand, pulled the underwiring of her bra in a pinging action."

Speaking in court the girl said: "I'm very sorry that this had to come before the court. I accepted the punishment given to me by the school and was very ashamed.

"This isn't the way it should be dealt with. It was dealt with in school and I feel that is the way it should have been dealt with."

Presiding magistrate Terry Bolongaro ordered the girl to pay her victim £20 compensation, but said the case should have been dealt with by a formal police reprimand.

He said: "Though you are guilty, we are not punishing you and you will hear no more about this.